SOPHIA'S POVWe enter the car, and after making sure they're all buckled in and not in any way injured, I turn on the engine and lay my head on the steering wheel. I just had to take a moment to process everything that happened.Today could have gone so bad, in so many ways, and I couldn't even begin to think about that. I thought about the nurse who had insisted that she had seen Alex get healed. I'm just thanking my lucky stars that no one believed her.On the one hand, I felt bad that everyone thought she was crazy, but if anyone decided to investigate further, it would have brought even more attention to them than they already had. I had worked so hard to get them to this point in their lives. I refuse to lose everything.And there's also the matter of my children….I turn back to look at them. “You're all good, baby? She didn't do anything to you guys?”“We're fine, mommy.” They answer, their voices low. I search their faces, but it's not revealing much. That alone scares me more
SOPHIA'S POVMrs. Jackson exclaims and pulls him over for a hug. With the fence in between them, I don't know how she did it, but she managed to squeeze Lucas in her arms.“Oh, I never thought I'd see you in person. You look so handsome. Are you two dating?”“No ma'am, we're not,” Lucas answers for me, chuckling.I decided it was time for that conversation to end. “Well, Mrs. Jackson, we'll see you later. Sure you won't get someone to help you out with your gardening every now and then?”“Oh no, no, my youngest, he's getting his PhD soon, and he'll be back to keep me company. He has three degrees now. He's also quite the handsome fellow. Around your age too.”If I didn't know any better, I would have thought Mrs. Jackson was advertising her son to me. I laugh at her antics. “I'm sure he's quite the person. I look forward to meeting him.”“Alright, dear. You take care of her, you hear me? She's a good one.” She pats Lucas's arm as she releases him.We wave her goodbye and head in, remo
SOPHIA'S POV Feeling his hands on my waist, I shivered at the warmth of his touch and my body froze up.“It's not a date.” I offered up resistance and Lucas just grinned and leaned closer.“Does that mean you don't want to go?”“You... I will…” My words trailed off as I felt his hands creep up and they rested on the small of my back and pulled me closer to him.“Then it's a date,” Lucas said once again and I didn't have any words left to deny him and nodded.But his hands still did not leave and his touch became scalding as I became aware of the nature of our contact.“Lucas…” Not exactly sure what I was threatening him with, I growled…. or at least, attempted to but for some reason, it came out weak.Lucas did not reply and just gazed into my eyes and I averted my gaze.“Look at me.” He said softly and his grip weakened as he raised his hand to my head and I felt like I could break free at any moment.But I couldn't. Or perhaps, I didn't want to. Perhaps something somewhere within m
NATHAN'S POVSuspicious. That was what my mind had been telling me ever since that day.Victoria had been by my side for years. There was no way she could have betrayed me.I tried to reason with my suspicions when my wolf, which usually stayed dormant, came up.“What if she did?” It left me with that, and it stayed in my mind.I did not want to pursue that line of thought because it would only mean one thing: a man who was foolish enough to believe the words of his childhood friend over the words of his destined one.“I told you it wasn't me!” A yell broke me free of my thoughts, and I looked over to find a group of children glaring at one child.That one child had tears in her eyes, but she still stood her ground as she looked at the kids surrounding her.“Then who did? Claire said it was you, and we found you next to it.” I narrowed my gaze to another girl, who was sobbing as a few boys comforted her.“I told you it was Claire! She broke it and ran away. I was just trying to fix it
NATHAN’S POV“The person from five years ago was now the head of the Silverfang pack.”The words just kept ringing in my head from what he said. Why? Why now? Why were the pieces of the puzzle just coming together now?“Are you sure?” I ask him, just to leave no room for doubt.“Yes, Alpha, I am.”“Thank you, Theon. You may leave now.”He bows and leaves the grounds. I take my time walking to my home. There’s, after all, no need to rush. No mate waiting for me at home, for her husband to come home.Although I had spent all this time trying to take my mind off Sophia and move on, there was something about that day that had just kept nagging me. But I did not think it through. I banished her immediately.As soon as I found out that she had left, I had called a council meeting to discuss what happened. They had been very confused, as not everyone had knowledge of what happened.I decided to inform them.“So, as most of you know, I banished my mate, and she is no longer welcome in the pac
NATHAN'S POVWe burst into the food storage building, our eyes scanning the dimly lit space for any sign of the intruders. The raiders, caught off guard, were quickly overpowered by our superior strength and numbers, closing in on themselves.One of the werewolves, a tall and lean figure with yellow eyes, obviously the leader of this little raid group, growled, leaving the little circle they had formed.I watched his movements. I could tell the warriors were tensed up for his attack, but I communicated to them in my head. “Hold. I'll handle this.”“Are you sure, Alpha?” One of them asked. He was obviously one of the newer warriors and has never seen me fight.“Take notes, would you?”Just as I had finished this thought, I watched as he tensed up, then ran at full speed, lunging at me. I waited until he was close to me and could not change directions, before side-stepping him, using a burst of strength to push his body into the wall. He crashed into the structure and howled in pain.Bu
NATHAN'S POVI stared hard at the girl, trying to discern any lies. “You mean, the same pack leader of the Silverfang?” I asked, and the girl shivered as her lips trembled in fear as she spoke.“Yes, him, our Alpha,” she said, and one of the warriors snorted.“Yeah, no kidding.”Cutting him a look, I gestured for the girl to continue, and she gathered herself, and then started to speak.“Malachi is our Alpha. He was the one who sent us here. In just a few years, he had the majority of the pack under his control. No one defies him, and his rule is absolute.”As she said that, the werewolf broke into shivers again, and I coughed. That seemed to bring her back to her senses, and she continued talking.Still, I couldn't help but wonder just what this Malachi did to make her fear him.“He is far more vicious than anything I could imagine. All those who tried to challenge him wished for death. Even now, I can still…”Her words broke off again, and I sighed and gestured for one of the warrio
NATHAN'S POV“What!” I half-yelled, and almost everyone present stiffened up as Lewis jumped to his feet.Rodney may have lost Lewis, but he was still one of the best members of the pack in combat.If he escaped, that would put all members of the pack at risk.Judging from the bloodstains, it seemed like he was willing to hurt even his own pack members in order to escape.“Everyone! The meeting today will be postponed until further notice. For now, just go back and make sure your families are safe,” I ordered, and the council members seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and nodded before leaving the room.“Haa… just what is going on?” I groaned and nodded at the guard who delivered the news.“Take me to his cell. Perhaps we might find some clues there.” The guard nodded and began leading the way, and I followed.We walked until we left the residential area of the territory and arrived in a place isolated from the rest of the pack.The guard opened the gates to a stone bui
SOPHIA'S POVI stepped inside, the familiar scent of home greeting me, but something was... wrong. The door clicked softly behind me, and the silence that followed was almost suffocating. I hadn’t expected the house to feel so still, so quiet. But it was more than that. It felt empty in a way that twisted something deep inside me.I hesitated, standing in the entryway. The house was usually alive with noise – Alex and Alexia’s laughter, their endless chatter, the thumping of their footsteps as they ran through the halls. But now… nothing.I swallowed hard, the unease crawling up my spine as my fingers curled around my bag. I’d seen the note at the door, my heart already racing before I even touched it.“I'm here for you Sophia. Miss me?” The words had burned into my mind, and now, with the house so eerily silent, my stomach twisted painfully.“Alex? Alexia?” I called, my voice too small in the empty air. It felt like I was shouting into a void. No answer. Just that thick, pressing sil
SOPHIA'S POVLola was quiet for a moment, her hand loosely wrapped around her mug. Then, with a glance that was far too knowing for my liking, she said gently, “So… how do you really feel about him?”Her words settled like mist in the cozy room, quiet and unassuming, but thick enough that I couldn’t ignore them.I stared into my tea like it might offer a better answer than I could. It didn’t. “I don’t know.” I said, which was technically true, if you just didn't count all the parts of me screaming otherwise.Lola’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, please. That’s the most suspicious ‘I don’t know’ I’ve heard all week – and I’ve had three customer complaints and a guy who claimed his espresso was ‘emotionally cold.’”I laughed despite myself. “Emotionally cold?”“He said it lacked soul. I gave him a biscotti and told him to take it up with his therapist.”I nearly spit my tea. “God, I’ve missed this.”“What, sarcasm and caffeine-fueled delusions?”“Exactly that.” I smiled, then let it slip. “And…
SOPHIA'S POVThe warmth of the mug seeped into my fingers as I curled them tighter around it, watching the steam swirl into the quiet kitchen. It seemed like Elara had offered me tea more out of habit than anything else, but I had accepted with a small, grateful smile, and she nodded, a smile on her own face, the kind that made you feel like she already knew what you needed.We walked in silence from the woods, the smell of nature and moonlight still clinging to my skin. I didn't know moonlight has its own scent till today. Was this how freeing it could be? Was this what I'd been missing? Been denying myself in the name of protection? The streets beyond this clove were empty this late, the world hushed and still. And now, with a cup in hand and the ache of the shift softened into a gentle hum beneath my skin, I finally felt grounded.At peace.Well, almost.“Elara?” I asked, glancing up from my mug. “How often do you walk these woods?”She arched a silver brow, blowing on her tea. “A
NATHAN'S POVI didn’t slam the door.Didn’t storm off, didn’t shout or demand she choose me. That had been the old me – the boy who thought power alone could win devotion.I left Sophia’s house with my jaw clenched, my fists loose at my sides, and a storm brewing behind my ribs. Lucas had looked so damn settled in her space, and she hadn’t stopped him. Not really. Not even when the kids had lit up at the sight of me, not when the air had pulsed between us like a heartbeat.I got in the car and pulled away slowly, like I wasn’t unraveling inside.But I was.I couldn’t go home. Not to the penthouse with its cold silence and reminders of what I’d lost. So I drove with no destination until the buildings thinned and the edges of the city blurred.Eventually, I ended up at the overlook above the river, where the world fell quiet and I could breathe.Almost.The next day came with emails, missed calls, and two back-to-back meetings. Camille cornered me in the hallway with her usual stack of
SOPHIA'S POVThe laughter came first – sharp and clear, like little bells ringing through the living room.“Okay, okay, one more time.” I laughed, holding up the deck of cards.“No!” Alex shouted, laughing uncontrollably and holding his tummy as he fell over onto the cushions. “You’re cheating!”“I am not!” I defended dramatically, spreading my hands. “I’m just really good at Go Fish.”“You peeked!” Alexia accused with narrowed eyes and a smug little grin, arms crossed as if she were the judge and jury both.“I did not peek! That’s called strategic intuition.”“Mom.” Alex groaned from the floor, face stuffed into a throw pillow then turned to Alexia. “She’s using grown up words again. That means she’s lying.”I fell back onto the carpet in mock defeat, while both kids climbed over me like little wolves claiming victory. It was past their bedtime, the dishes from dinner was still in the sink, and I had at least two voicemails from Kate about tomorrow’s delivery schedule. But none of it
SOPHIA'S POVI couldn’t taste the waffles.Couldn’t even tell if they were burnt or perfect, though I watched Lucas flip them with his usual confidence and pride. I watched Alex drizzle syrup across his plate like it was a masterpiece. I watched Alexia pick at hers, pulling the edges apart like she was unspooling something too tightly wound.And across the table – Nathan.His presence alone changed the air in the room. Like a low growl under a wolf's breath . He sat with poise, talking softly to Alex as if they’d always known each other. Asking questions about school, about drawings, about dreams. And somehow – somehow – Alex opened up. Completely. Like he’d been waiting to be heard in exactly that tone, with exactly that warmth.It scared me. How easy it was.“You okay?” Lucas’s voice cut into the quiet.I blinked. He was watching me from the other end of the table, his jaw tight, his expression blank. Dangerous.“Yeah.” I said too fast. “Just tired.”“Didn’t sleep again?”I shrugged
NATHAN'S POVThe door swung open.And there she was.Sophia.Barefoot, wearing worn jeans and a soft sweater that still somehow managed to knock the breath from my lungs. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed like she’d been running — or panicking. Knowing the absolute fucking love of my life – probably both.Her eyes locked onto mine. For a second, neither of us moved.I tightened my grip on the paper bag and the small wooden box in my other hand. Gifts. Pathetic offerings for the things I really wanted — her forgiveness. My children’s acceptance. A place at their table. In their lives.“Hi.” I said, voice rougher than I intended.“Hi.” She breathed back.I saw it then — the war happening inside her. The way her body wanted to lean toward me but her mind pulled her back. Fear. Guilt. Hope.All tangled together. Dammit. Not still.“I brought something.” I said quietly, lifting the bag a little.Sophia blinked like she’d forgotten how to speak. Then she stepped as
SOPHIA’S POV The sun filtered gently through the curtains, casting warm stripes across the wooden floor. For once, the house was quiet – not with the eerie kind of silence that came from something being wrong, but the kind that only came after a storm. I stood in the kitchen, barefoot, a mug of tea cradled in my hands. “Ow, hot.” I burned my fingers as I dipped it in the mug to taste the tea. Then replied myself, “Of course it's hot you dummy. You just made it.” I sighed and leaned my head lightly against the cabinet door as I stared at the empty hallway beyond. The twins were still asleep, for now. I had let them sleep in. I’d taken the day off. No Kate, no kitchen, no demands. I texted her before dawn. “Can’t come in today. Family stuff. I trust you.” I didn’t say more, and she didn’t ask. She just sent back a thumbs-up and a heart. I knew she would understand even with no explanation. The truth was, I didn’t even know how to put words to what had happened last night. I wa
VICTORIA'S POVThe air reeked of stale beer, sweat, and desperation. Ew.But, it was exactly the kind of place I’d expect to find a disgraced Alpha drowning in his own failure. Go figure.The bar was tucked into the corner of a forgotten alley, away from prying eyes by broken neon signs and shattered dreams. How do the humans say it again? Ahh, yes. What a boulevard of broken dreams.I stood outside for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the dim glow bleeding through the fogged windows. The faint thundering boom of music sounded from within – some cheap EDM beat vibrating through shitty speakers – and over all of that, somehow louder than it all, the rough voices of men exchanging bets, boasts, and laughter that reeked of low intelligence.I pushed the door open.The warmth inside hit me like a wall, thick with body heat and alcohol fumes. It was a human dive, alright. Ugh.Cheap wood paneling, flickering lights, a couple of dart boards with knives sticking out of them. A fight was b